Understand the terminology and how building features affect how much of a specific commercial real estate space is really available for your needs.
Figuring out if a commercial real estate space, whether in Tucson or elsewhere, is the right size for your business takes more than stretching a tape measure from wall to wall.
First, you’ll need to know some terms.
Gross Square Footage
“Gross square footage” is most typically used with
- warehouses
- industrial buildings
- free-standing retail sites
- other stand-alone buildings.
Typically, the calculation of gross square footage will include the thickness of the sidewalls when measuring the total footprint of the site.
Usable Square Feet vs. Rentable Square Feet
If you’re looking for office space, you’ll discover that the actual square footage for this use is typically less than the amount upon which the rent is based.
The square footage you exclusively use is termed “usable square feet.” The amount upon which the rent is based is called “rentable square feet.”
You’ll need to analyze the lease of both the rentable and the usable square footage of each property to understand which property best fits your space and financial needs.
Other Space Considerations
Columns. An office plan that calls for a high percentage of interior partition walls can integrate the existing columns into the plan with often striking design elements. Open-plan users may find that too many columns in the space can increase the cost of furniture systems and increase their square footage requirements.
Windows. If you want a lot of private offices, you should look closely at how window spacing affects office sizes, particularly if you want a mixture of office sizes. The difference between a 4.5-foot mullion, the divider between windows, and a 5-foot mullion can mean a dramatic difference in office size without a substantial benefit in usability.
Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson can help you picture your business in an empty commercial space. Contact the tenant representation company to learn more.
Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson specializes in representing tenants and corporate users across the United States. For more information call 520-299-3400.
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